Safety Reshad Jones said he thought about waiting until head coach Mark Richt named a new defensive coordinator before applying for the NFL Draft.

But with the Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare just over a week away, the redshirt junior from Atlanta felt he needed to go ahead and make his decision known.

"I thought about it, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt I needed to go ahead and get on with this new chapter in my life," Jones said on a telephone interview Monday night with UGASports.

Jones is expected to have company.

Earlier, Bulldog linebacker Rennie Curran said in a text that he was planning on meeting "very soon" with Richt to talk about his "final decision" regarding whether to stay or go.

A source close to the Bulldog program confirmed to UGASports Sunday evening that both players were leaving the Bulldog a year early.

Jones said he met with Richt Monday to talk about his decision.

"He just said he thinks that I've matured in the time I've been here and he wished me the best," Jones said. "He was happy for me."

A 6-foot-2, 215-pounder from Atlanta's Washington High, Jones started all 13 games for the Bulldogs and picked off three passes. He finishes his Bulldog career with 10 interceptions. He finished the regular season with 68 tackles.

"It was just a situation where I sat down and talked to my family and we decided it was the best plan," Jones said. "I can't wait for the future has to offer."